Underfire services slammed

SALFORD council’s children’s services department, where the boss is in crunch talks about her future, has received a damning report by government inspectors. Head of department Jill Baker has been in two weeks of negotiations about her future after the murder of Demi Leigh Mahon, who was let down 12 times by social workers, and now the Ofsted report has increased the pressure on her.

SALFORD council’s children’s services department, where the boss is in crunch talks about her future, has received a damning report by government inspectors.

Head of department Jill Baker has been in two weeks of negotiations about her future after the murder of Demi Leigh Mahon, who was let down 12 times by social workers, and now the Ofsted report has increased the pressure on her.

Demi, two, was murdered by teenager Karl McCluney, who had been left alone to look after her on his 15th birthday. But social workers had already been warned at least a dozen times about the toddler’s chaotic life and that her mother was taking drugs and unable to cope.

The council’s chief executive, Barbara Spicer, previously carried out a review into the decision by Mrs Baker not to discipline anyone in the wake of Demi’s death. She concluded that Mrs Baker herself should go.

The report highlights nine areas for improvement in front line social work regarding the referral and assessment of children at risk of abuse.

It follows an unannounced inspection last month and says: "The council’s strategies are not sufficiently effective in managing and prioritising risk and inspectors were unable to confirm from all case recordings that the children concerned were safe."

It adds: "The analysis of risks and needs in the assessments viewed by inspectors was poor. The involvement of health visitors in assessments is too limited. Child protection investigations are identified at a later stage than required by government rules.

"There should be better communication with families and young people being supported. There needs to be better reporting and recording of cases.

"In one case there was a significant delay by an agency in referring a case where safeguarding concerns had been recognised. In particular, the quality of information from the police in respect of domestic abuse is poor and referrals do not routinely contain sufficient information about the child."

It adds that the cases of five children were raised with the council as inspectors were unable to establish from records that action had been taken to ensure that they were not at risk or harm.

"These included cases where information had not been properly examined or where assessments were of poor quality and did not sufficiently consider risk. Senior officers gave a commitment that these cases would be immediately re-examined," says the report.

Councillor John Warmisham, the city’s spokesman for children’s services, said: "The inspectors have acknowledged where improvements have been made and given us a clear indication of where we need to do still more.

"The inspection has given me confidence that our work in improving services in this key area has been sustained and in the right direction.

"Our improvement programme is making progress and will include the recommendations from this latest inspection."

Police had contacted the council five times in two years with concerns over Demi, her mother, or both. Social services received a further five alerts from neighbours and Demi’s own grandmother contacted Salford council twice to say she was worried about Demi’s welfare.

Department overspent

SALFORD children’s services department has overspent £2m, according to a report

The town hall report has disclosed that children’s services in the city are £2.019m over budget - of that, £942,000 relates to spending on schools and £1.07m to a general fund.

The report says spending has increased on salaries; supporting families to keep children out of care; and supporting children in care in fostering, adoption and residential homes.

As the department’s cash crisis emerged, there were fresh calls for a public inquiry from the city’s Liberal Democrats into the death of the toddler, Demi Leigh Mahon.

Lib Dem group leader Norman Owen added: "We will keep pressing on this issue until we are sure the children of this city are properly safeguarded by the council."

Children’s services spokesman Councillor John Warmisham said: "It is clear to me that children’s services are currently overspending in some areas.

"I have now requested that officers develop a budget recovery plan and conduct a wider analysis and targeted review of key budget areas to ensure that we continue to invest in services that support children who most need our help. This work is well under way. The council’s leadership are working to ensure that overall council expenditure is managed within the budget available."